Wolves will play cards right at Wembley with joker in the pack Joao Moutinho for FA Cup semi-final
Only Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo have more caps for Portugal than the ex-Monaco midfielder
Sponsored by
WOLVES will play their joker in the pack at Wembley tomorrow.
Joao Moutinho is a Euro 2016 winner and Portugal’s third most capped player — behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo — but that does not stop him being Molineux’s resident prankster.
If they can beat Watford, Wolves will reach their first FA Cup final in 59 years. Moutinho, 32, insists being game for a laugh is key to their success.
He said: “This is true. I joke every time, I try every day to be happy and to give what we want with happiness and a smile.
“I try to live my life like this. We enjoy what we do — playing football is the best job in the world.
“I do small things for the group, to make them laugh. I say: ‘If I get rid of the beard I look 22!’
“It’s not only me — Conor Coady, Romain Saiss and Ruben Neves too. That’s why we are a good group. There are pranks, things like that.
“In the shower, we have the hot water, so we turn the cold water on — all the players run out!”
Moutinho teamed up with boss Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolves last summer for the club’s return to the Premier League.
But on his first day of training, he broke the ice by playing without any laces in his boots.
It’s important when a coach plays football and becomes a coach, he knows what the players need.
Joao Moutinho
The jovial spirit has helped Nuno’s team to the FA Cup semi-final, seventh in the Prem and a possible Europa League spot.
And Moutinho — who plans to be a manager himself one day — says that Nuno sees no problem with his team enjoying themselves.
He added: “Of course, and he does it too! When we need to work we work, but when we do something he does it with us to be inside of the group.
“Nuno has played for the last 20 years. It’s important when a coach plays football and becomes a coach, he knows what the players need. The chemistry is good.”
Serial-winner Moutinho won 12 trophies with Sporting Lisbon and Porto and Ligue 1 with Monaco.
Some might wonder why he swapped Monaco for Wolverhampton.
He added: “Monaco is good but it’s small.
“Since I started, I’ve wanted to play in England.
Latest football news
“I could have joined Everton or Spurs before, but things didn’t work out.
“When I came here the people were so kind. I love to play in the Premier League. From the first day I thought we could do something good.
“The players here want to win something — and that’s my motivation.”
